6 states down, 44 more to go

[Cynthetiq]

Tourism > ESB Right Now > Tower Lights - Empire State Building

FINALLY: NY State Senate Passes Gay Marriage: Gothamist

Two years after the New York State Senate strongly rejected gay marriage it finally came to a vote again tonight. This time, the State Senate voted to legalize same-sex marriage by a margin of 33 to 29. The religious amendments to the bill passed in the Assembly by 82-47 earlier in the evening; now the bill just needs Governor Cuomo's signature to become law.

As the vote began there was some confusion when State Senator Tom Duane started to defend the bill he sponsored—saying "What this bill will do is say that we are family in a way that no other word can. And that word is marriage."—before he was replaced by Senator Stephen Saland who instead defended the bill's amendment, which he worked on. As he spoke about the bill and its inseverability clause it became increasingly clear that he would be the much rumored 32nd vote in favor of marriage equality in New York State.

"I, like many people, have struggled over this issue. It has been a difficult issue to deal with," he said. He then spoke of the thousands and thousands of his constituents who had contacted him and said, "They all asked me to do the right thing. Needless to say my decision on this bill is going to disappoint a significant number of people. I have to define doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality. And that equality includes the definition of marriage."

A couple of years ago I posed this article from Time magazine because a friend made the newswires with this crazy but true image.



Tonight, I'm happy to say that my friend can now legally get married to his gay mormon husband.

[Willravel]

I was so incredibly disappointed with California back in 2008 with Prop 8. This is a massive victory for human rights, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the LGBT community. I'm so happy for our LGBT brothers and sisters in New York. I sincerely hope this is the one that starts the ball rolling much faster on the rest of the country.

[Plan9]

Yeah, yeah... everybody has the right to be miserable together using a spinelessly binding contract as ancient as homophobia itself... but do we have to involve that tacky-ass rainbow motif so much? I mean, they're gay... fonts of "good taste." You'd think they'd come up with something more fashionable.

Seriously.

I get the distinct feeling it'll be 2090 and we'll all have Datsun jetpacks before you see this kinda move in some states... ya know, the places where they still have a hard time accepting people with different skin colors getting hitched and women voting. Call me a cynic; we're not all Vermont here.

[sbscout]

Originally Posted by Willravel

I was so incredibly disappointed with California back in 2008 with Prop 8. This is a massive victory for human rights, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the LGBT community. I'm so happy for our LGBT brothers and sisters in New York. I sincerely hope this is the one that starts the ball rolling much faster on the rest of the country.

Echoes...

[roachboy]

apparently the backwater is pissed.
there are delightful bytes in this article from those christian charmers of the national organization for marriage, everyone's favorite hate group:

New York: Activists celebrate gay marriage victory, but the fight goes on | World news | The Observer

and those progressives in the ratzinger-dominated catholic church.

so i doubt this is over.

but at the moment at least i'm pleased that new york--with a republican-controlled legislature--has taken a step out of the backwater by recognizing the obvious right of people to love whom they choose and avail themselves of the advantages and protections of the civil institution of marriage.

[citadel]

Originally Posted by roachboy

so i doubt this is over.

It won't be over as long as people go around asking the government to regulate everyone's private lives.

[filtherton]

It won't be over until the fat lady sings.

[ASU2003]

Originally Posted by citadel

It won't be over as long as people go around asking the government to regulate everyone's private lives.

But this is de-regulation...

I'm not sure there are 44 states to go either... Any same-sex couple that is able to get married will have moved out of a few states by that time.

[Baraka_Guru]

It's time for federal legislation.

[snowy]

I was attending a fundraiser (drag bingo) for a LGBT scholarship fund on Friday night when the announcement was made. The community center went nuts.

I hope that we can keep making progress on this issue. One of the speakers on Friday night announced that there will be a grass roots effort starting soon to repeal Oregon's Measure 36. I am looking forward to volunteering to help repeal it.

[levite]

I am pleased about NY's common compassion in this matter. And echo Will's disgust at California's shameful inability to yet produce similar results (and to prevent the reverse from occurring).

Nonetheless, I wish that the Federal government would resolve this issue in what I think would be the best manner possible: get American governments out of the marriage business. I think all government "marriages" should be reclassified as "civil unions," whether they are for straight or gay people. Let the religions have "marriage." That way the semantics get rid of more arguments, and there is more separation of religion and state.

But that's just my $0.02....

[Lindy]

Originally Posted by Plan9

Yeah, yeah... everybody has the right to be miserable together using a spinelessly binding contract as ancient as homophobia itself... but do we have to involve that tacky-ass rainbow motif so much? I mean, they're gay... fonts of "good taste." You'd think they'd come up with something more fashionable.

Seriously.

....and women voting. Call me a cynic; we're not all Vermont here.

Of course you're a cynic. It's what I love about you. But seriously, (as you say,) in which states do they have a problem with women voting?

Originally Posted by roachboy

apparently the backwater is pissed... new york--with a republican-controlled legislature--has taken a step out of the backwater by recognizing the obvious right of people to love whom they choose and avail themselves of the advantages and protections of the civil institution of marriage.

I can't believe my eyes. Is roachboy actually acknowledging that perhaps not all republicans are homophobic, reactionary asshats that should be shipped off to re-education camps?

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

It's time for federal legislation.

Oh goody. Another one of those "No Lawyer Left Behind" acts.

Originally Posted by levite

I am pleased about NY's common compassion in this matter. And echo Will's disgust at California's shameful inability to yet produce similar results (and to prevent the reverse from occurring).

Nonetheless, I wish that the Federal government would resolve this issue in what I think would be the best manner possible: get American governments out of the marriage business. I think all government "marriages" should be reclassified as "civil unions," whether they are for straight or gay people. Let the religions have "marriage." That way the semantics get rid of more arguments, and there is more separation of religion and state.

But that's just my $0.02....

Worth looking at further. You go to church, temple, or mosque for marriage, or you go to a judge (or the county clerk) for a civil union, which has all the benefits (and drawbacks) of a marriage and must be legally recognized as such by all. Those churches which choose not to (recognize) can still claim the moral high ground, and the "sanctity" of the word marriage, even though they have been outflanked legally. Works for me.

Lindy

[Tully Mars]

Originally Posted by snowy

I was attending a fundraiser (drag bingo) for a LGBT scholarship fund on Friday night when the announcement was made. The community center went nuts.

I hope that we can keep making progress on this issue. One of the speakers on Friday night announced that there will be a grass roots effort starting soon to repeal Oregon's Measure 36. I am looking forward to volunteering to help repeal it.

Lon Mabon ever come out of the closet? If so he'd be a good volunteer.

[girldetective]

Lon Mabon?! OMG!
Everyone and no one one would want his ass volunteering, if hes still alive.


Go NY!

[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by Lindy

Oh goody. Another one of those "No Lawyer Left Behind" acts.

If that's what it takes.